Estonia is acquiring an advanced U.S. rocket artillery system known as HIMARS in country’s largest arms procurement project ever, defence officials announced on Saturday.
“On Friday, Magnus-Valdemar Saar, Director General of the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (ECDI), signed a contract with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) for the procurement of the HIMARS multiple rocket launcher systems, which is an important capacity boost in the development of Estonia’s indirect fire capability… The total value of the contract is more than 200 million dollars,” the statement read.
The package includes HIMARS rockets with ranges of 43-186 miles. System manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp. is expected to make the first deliveries in 2024.
"The HIMARS multiple rocket launchers are a new important step in the development of Estonia’s defence capabilities,” Lt. Col. Kaarel Mäesalu, head of the capability development department at the Estonian Defence Forces. “This makes it possible to decisively influence the enemy even before coming into contact with our infantry units.”
Latvia and Lithuania also either have or are currently in the process of acquiring their own HIMARS.
